Sanju Samson snubs R Ashwin’s prediction: Why the CSK star refuses to challenge Ruturaj Gaikwad for captaincy
Sanju Samson snubs R Ashwin’s prediction: Why the CSK star refuses to challenge Ruturaj Gaikwad for captaincy originally appeared on Cricket News . Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . KEY TAKEAWAYS: Sanju Samson rejects captaincy talk, saying new arrivals shouldn't walk in with demands.
R Ashwin predicts Samson will eventually lead CSK in coming years. CSK back Gaikwad as skipper, refuse to burden Samson early. Sanju Samson cools down speculation around CSK leadership When Chennai Super Kings acquired Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026 in a deal valued at Rs 18 crore, the speculation machine went into overdrive.
A wicketkeeper-batter of his stature joining a side that already had an established captain seemed, to many, like the first move in a longer game. The question doing the rounds was straightforward: was Ruturaj Gaikwad's time as CSK skipper running out? Ravichandran Ashwin did little to dampen those theories when he suggested that Samson would one day lead the five-time champions.
The former spinner stopped short of naming a timeline but was clear in his conviction. “I’m no astrologer, but I do see Sanju captaining CSK at some stage. I don’t know when, but I feel it could happen," said Ashwin.
Coming from someone with deep knowledge of the franchise and the game, it was the kind of remark that tends to stick. MORE: CSK vs LSG Dream11: Lineups, pitch report and score predictions for IPL 2026 match What did Sanju Samson say about CSK captaincy? Now Samson has spoken for himself, and he kept it simple.